' IMPECUNIOSUS ' — BENEFIT OF TIPS ON HUNTERS. 157 



all had infirmities, which consisted in knuckling 

 over and falling when trotted on hard roads, in- 

 cipient side bones, brittle hoof, cutting, legs that 

 were always swollen, chronic laminitis, corns, and 

 inability to keep up a gallop through ploughed 

 lands. He shod them on all fours with either short 

 Charlier shoes or tips, and they were all either 

 greatly benefited or else cured of these unsound- 

 nesses. One of these horses he sold to a gentleman, 

 who immediately had him full shod in the ordinary 

 manner. The horse again became as unsound as ever. 

 People read the Fields and neighbours looked on at 

 it all, but it taught no one any lesson. ' Impe- 

 cuniosus ' wrote in the sand for the ' ruck ; ' but not 

 so, however, for the present writer, who had the 

 thing quite as closely at heart as had that estimable 

 gentleman himself, and followed him up (although 

 then abroad) with the greatest interest, with the 

 vain idea that he was going to bring about a reform. 

 A decade has since passed away, and nothing has 

 resulted from his efforts. It appears as if he was 

 then ahead of the age — so, possibly, may his imitator 

 be now ; but ten years make a difference in en- 

 lightenment ; and everything should march with 

 the age. If the present appeal should still prove 

 abortive, at all events the subject will have been 

 kept upon the surface, and thus it will again be taken 

 up by someone else in due time ; and whenever 

 this happens the intervals will be found to be 

 shortened by the onward march of intellect and 

 science, if not of common sense. 



